Office of the Historian

740.00119 European War 1939/1650

The American Embassy Near the Yugoslav Government in Exile to the Yugoslav Ministry for Foreign Affairs 71

Aide-Mémoire

Recent developments in Italy render it highly desirable for the United Nations in a state of war with her to agree among themselves [Page 358] what common action they should take if she applies for a suspension of hostilities. In the view of the United States and United Kingdom Governments, who are together responsible for the conduct of the present military operations against Italy, it will best accord with the various obligations which the United Nations have undertaken towards one another, particularly under Article 2 of the United Nations Declaration,72 if, after receiving the formal unconditional surrender of Italy for which they have stipulated, a statement in the name of all the United Nations who are at war with her should be presented stating what they require her to do. Such a document would have to be signed by the representative of the Italian Government without discussion. It would suspend the state of hostilities simultaneously between her and all the United Nations at war with her. Only in this way would it be possible to guard against the dangerous confusion which would be likely to result from a multiplicity of instruments between the United Nations severally and the defeated Power.

2.
The Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to recommend to other United Nations whose interests are most immediately concerned that the Allied Commander-in-Chief should be empowered as sole signatory to sign, with any Italian Government whom they consider to dispose of the necessary degree of authority to give it effect, an instrument covering the following ground:
1.
Acknowledgment of total defeat.
2.
Italian participation in the war to cease in all theatres.
3.
Withdrawal of the Italian armed forces from all areas outside Italian territory as and when directed.
4.
Occupation of such parts of Italian territory as may be required.
5.
Such measure of demobilisation and disarmament as may be prescribed.
6.
Italian fleet to assemble and to be dealt with as prescribed.
7.
Control of airfields, ports and transport systems.
8.
All merchant shipping and inland transport equipment to be made available.
9.
Rights of passage for United Nations Personnel, materials, aircraft and ships.
10.
Control of all inter-communications and imposition of censorship.
11.
War material to be stored and dealt with as prescribed.
12.
Industrial and financial controls.
13.
Severance of relations with the other Axis Powers and prohibition of all intercourse with them.
14.
Internment of Axis forces in Italy.
15.
Surrender of war criminals.
16.
Dissolution of the Fascist organisation and repeal of objectionable legislation.
17.
Immediate handing over of all Allied prisoners of war.
3.
The Yugoslav Government will observe that such an Instrument amply covers its needs and takes into account all those general desiderata set out in the various informal communications made to the United States and United Kingdom Governments by the Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in London.
4.
The two Governments therefore express the hope that the Yugoslav Government will at once agree that the Allied Commander-in-Chief may be empowered to sign such an Instrument as sole signatory on their behalf as on that of all other United Nations who are at war with Italy.
5.
The full text of the proposed Instrument will be communicated as soon as possible.
6.
The Yugoslav Government will recognise that the two Governments actually conducting military operations on Italian territory feel compelled to sign an Instrument in these terms even if when the time for signature arrives some of the United Nations at war with Italy may not have conferred a mandate on the Commander-in-Chief to sign on their behalf. Therefore they sincerely hope that the Yugoslav Government will agree that its interests are fully protected by the draft Instrument, as they are most anxious that its signature should not be impeded by the proposal of amendments which it would be difficult to make at a moment when the Italians were ready to sign.
7.
Although under this procedure there will be only one signatory on behalf of the United Nations, if for any reason the Yugoslav Government desire that their representative should be present at the time of signature, the United States and United Kingdom Governments will do what they can to arrange for this.
8.
A similar communication has been or is being made to the Governments of H.B.M.73 Dominions, U.S.S.R., China, Brazil, Ethiopia, Greece and to the French Committee of National Liberation.
London , August 30, 1943.
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile, at London, in his despatch No. 86, August 30; received September 8.↩
  2. Signed at Washington, January 1, 1942; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25.↩
  3. His Britannic Majesty.↩